This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.

Defining battles of the Civil War

Image 1. The northern cornfield in 2017 at Antietam, Maryland. In September 1862, General Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North during theCivil War was stopped in rural Maryland, with more than 23,000 Americans killed in a single day. Photo: Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis viaGetty Images

The American Civil War (1861–1865) was the

bloodiest war in U.S. history. It was fought between

the Union (the northern states) and the Confederacy

(the southern states). The Confederate states seceded,

or left, the United States in 1861. Hundreds of

thousands of soldiers were killed during the Civil War.

More than 50 major battles were fought. Below are five of the most important.

First Bull Run (July 21, 1861)

The first Battle of Bull Run was the war's first major battle. It is also known as the first Battle of

Manassas.

The battle began after Union forces under General Irvin McDonnell marched out of Washington,

D.C. Their goal was to seize the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. About 25 miles into the

By National Geographic Society, adapted by Newsela staff on 05.13.19Word Count 771Level 810L

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.

march, their path was blocked by the Confederate Army. Confederate forces were commanded by

General P. G. T. Beauregard.

Fighting broke out early in the morning. At first, it seemed as if the Union Army would win.

However, the Confederates held their ground. More Confederate troops arrived that afternoon.

The now-stronger Confederate Army quickly defeated Union forces, who retreated to Washington.

About 4,800 soldiers from both sides died that day.

Shiloh (April 6–7, 1862)

In April 1862, the Union Army set out to seize control of an important Confederate train line in

Mississippi. To defend the line, Confederate forces gathered in the town of Corinth, Mississippi.

They were under the command of General Albert Sidney Johnston.

The Union planned to unite two armies and then take

Corinth. One Union Army unit was under the

command of Ulysses S. Grant. The other was led by

Don Carlos Buell.

Grant's army arrived first and set up camp in the town

of Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, near the Shiloh

Meeting House. Johnston wanted to strike Grant's

army before Buell arrived, and at dawn on April 6, his

forces attacked. Grant's men were surprised but

fought back fiercely. Buell's forces finally arrived

overnight, and the combined Union force attacked at

dawn. During the fighting, General Johnston was killed. Confederate forces were defeated and

pulled back.

More than 23,000 men from both sides were killed during the battle.

Antietam (September 17, 1862)

Confederate General Robert E. Lee had decided to take the war to the North. He came up with a

plan to attack Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. His plan, however, fell into Union

hands, and the Union Army marched to meet Lee's forces at Antietam Creek in Maryland.

However, Union General McClellan waited 18 hours before moving his troops. This gave the

Confederates time to bring in reinforcements.

The long day of fighting ended in a draw, with 23,000 men killed.

Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863)

After Antietam, Lee gave up his plans to invade the North. However, by the summer of the next

year, he was ready to try again.

Lee ordered his forces to march north. They were met by Union troops at the town of Gettysburg,

Pennsylvania, on the morning of July 1. Union forces were under the command of General George

Meade.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.

The Confederates had the upper hand at first, but the

Union Army held on and kept them from advancing.

The following day, additional troops arrived for both

sides. Lee again failed to defeat the Union Army.

On July 3, the Confederates made one last push. Lee

ordered 15,000 Confederate troops to charge up

Cemetery Ridge. This attack later became known as

Pickett's Charge. Although it broke through Union

lines, in the end, the Confederates were pushed back.

Lee's forces retreated on July 4.

The Union side lost 23,000 men, while the Confederates lost 28,000.

Vicksburg (May 22–July 4, 1863)

Vicksburg, Mississippi, is located midway along the very important Mississippi River. Capturing it

would give control of the entire Mississippi to the Union. But the city was heavily defended by

Confederate forces commanded by General John C. Pemberton.

In May, Union troops under General Ulysses S. Grant attacked Vicksburg and quickly surrounded

the city. By mid-June, Confederate soldiers trapped inside Vicksburg were running low on

supplies. General Pemberton surrendered on July 4.

The Union victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg came just a day apart. Together, they marked the

turning point of the Civil War. From then on, the North had the upper hand and was victorious.

Many of the battlefields are now national parks and can be visited to learn more about the battles.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.

Quiz

1 Read the sentences from the section ”Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863)."

On July 3, the Confederates made one last push. Lee ordered 15,000 Confederate troops tocharge up Cemetery Ridge. This attack later became known as Pickett's Charge.

Which answer uses "push" in the SAME way as the first sentence above?

(A) He had to push past the pain to finish the last mile of the marathon.

(B) They started to push each other and it turned into a major fight.

(C) She had to push her way through the crowd to get a better view.

(D) The laser tag team began its push to win the game.

2 Read the following paragraph from the section "Shiloh (April 6–7, 1862)."

Grant's army arrived first and set up camp in the town of Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, near theShiloh Meeting House. Johnston wanted to strike Grant's army before Buell arrived, and at dawnon April 6, his forces attacked. Grant's men were surprised but fought back fiercely. Buell's forcesfinally arrived overnight, and the combined Union force attacked at dawn. During the fighting,General Johnston was killed. Confederate forces were defeated and pulled back.

What is the meaning of the word "strike" as it is used in the paragraph above?

(A) arrived

(B) attacked

(C) combined

(D) defeated

3 If the introduction [paragraph 1] were organized as cause and effect, which sentence would come FIRST?

(A) The American Civil War (1861–1865) was the bloodiest war in U.S. history.

(B) It was fought between the Union (the northern states) and the Confederacy (the southern states).

(C) The Confederate states seceded, or left, the United States in 1861.

(D) Hundreds of thousands of soldiers were killed during the Civil War.

4 How is the overall structure of the section "First Bull Run (July 21, 1861)" similar to the overall structure of the section "Vicksburg(May 22–July 4, 1863)"?

(A) The overall structure of both sections is order of importance.

(B) The overall structure of both sections is problem and solution.

(C) The overall structure of both sections is comparison.

(D) The overall structure of both sections is chronology.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.

Answer Key

1 Read the sentences from the section ”Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863)."

On July 3, the Confederates made one last push. Lee ordered 15,000 Confederate troops tocharge up Cemetery Ridge. This attack later became known as Pickett's Charge.

Which answer uses "push" in the SAME way as the first sentence above?

(A) He had to push past the pain to finish the last mile of the marathon.

(B) They started to push each other and it turned into a major fight.

(C) She had to push her way through the crowd to get a better view.

(D) The laser tag team began its push to win the game.

2 Read the following paragraph from the section "Shiloh (April 6–7, 1862)."

Grant's army arrived first and set up camp in the town of Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, near theShiloh Meeting House. Johnston wanted to strike Grant's army before Buell arrived, and at dawnon April 6, his forces attacked. Grant's men were surprised but fought back fiercely. Buell's forcesfinally arrived overnight, and the combined Union force attacked at dawn. During the fighting,General Johnston was killed. Confederate forces were defeated and pulled back.

What is the meaning of the word "strike" as it is used in the paragraph above?

(A) arrived

(B) attacked

(C) combined

(D) defeated

3 If the introduction [paragraph 1] were organized as cause and effect, which sentence would come FIRST?

(A) The American Civil War (1861–1865) was the bloodiest war in U.S. history.

(B) It was fought between the Union (the northern states) and the Confederacy (the southern states).

(C) The Confederate states seceded, or left, the United States in 1861.

(D) Hundreds of thousands of soldiers were killed during the Civil War.

4 How is the overall structure of the section "First Bull Run (July 21, 1861)" similar to the overall structure of the section "Vicksburg(May 22–July 4, 1863)"?

(A) The overall structure of both sections is order of importance.

(B) The overall structure of both sections is problem and solution.

(C) The overall structure of both sections is comparison.

(D) The overall structure of both sections is chronology.